SHORELINES. Pastor s Corner. In This Issue:

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1 SHORELINES FIRST COVENANT CHURCH NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2015 In This Issue: Pastor s Corner January Calendar January Sunday Schedule Wednesday Night Schedule Church Events Other Events Area News & Our Views News from Sunny Days Sunday Schedule 9:00 A.M. Sunday School (for all ages) 10:00 A.M. Coffee Fellowship 10:30 A.M. Worship Wednesday Schedule 6:45 P.M. Youth Groups (see schedule) 6:45 P.M. Adult Bible Study Pastor s Corner On January 25th First Covenant Church will vote to change the format of our leadership from a Council model to a Leadership Team model. At our 2014 church annual meeting the church council (Please see comparison of Constitution models at the end of this newsletter) made a motion for this change; it was seconded and now we will vote on it at the 2015 Annual Meeting. Currently, if one asked me for the vision of First Covenant, I would say that we do everything to be faith-forming and family nurturing. The Leadership Team model allows us to pursue this vision in a more efficient and flexible manner. Staying true to the vision God gives as well as carrying out in a timely manner will become increasingly important as our society devotes more and more away from it s Christian roots. This though especially struck me as I taught a church History class at Lake Beauty Bible Camp, as one lesson I again had impressed on me was whenever the church faced pressure it was the churches that remained both true to their roots yet flexible bore fruit for Christ. It is our hope that First Covenant Church will not only continue a viable ministry in Worthington, but a growing one ready to face the challenges of an increasingly post- Christian culture. Please keep First Covenant Church leadership in your prayers as we move forward into Thank you.

2 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 4 No Sunday School 10 :00 Coffee Fellowship 10:30 Worship with Communion JANUARY New Year s Day :15 Prayer Time 6:45 Youth Groups 6:45 Adult Bible Study Clarice Buntjer Louis Jeffers Tatiana Seifert Nyanhial Reek Yoa Gene Foth Gretchen O Donnell Jacob Eggink 11 9:00 Sunday School 10:00 Coffee Fellowship 10:30 Worship Shirley Martin 18 9:00 Sunday School 10 :00 Coffee Fellowship 10:30 Worship 25 9:00 Sunday School 10 :00 Coffee Fellowship 10:30 Worship Annual Meeting to follow :15 Prayer Time 8:45 Sunny Days 6:00 Commissions 12:15 Prayer Time 7:00 Council No SDP 8:15 Prayer Time Martin Luther King 8:45 Sunny Days Jr. Day 12:15 Prayer Time Jon Weitgenant Jeffrey Garcia Emily Buarapha 6:45 Youth Groups 6:45 Adult Bible Study Carol Christopherson Haylee Untiedt Marc Gustafson Ethan Hyvari Christian Bos Bob & Lindy Roos :15 Prayer Time Craig & Elizabeth Stewart Confirmation Retreat 9:30 A.M. 3:00 P.M. Gloria Frederickson

3 SCRIPTURE READERS: 4 Dale Martin 11 Tom Ahlberg 18 DiDi Christopherson 25 Leroy Eggink WORSHIP NURSERY: 4 Colin & Gretchen O Donnell 11 Richard & Bethani Fellows 18 Kadence Hyvari & Lauren Martin 25 Ted & Sarah Martin SOUND SYSTEM: 4 Jeff Ling 11 Dean Christopherson 18 Greg Clark 25 Arnold Sexe USHERS: Greg & Becky Clark Kevin & Nancy Flynn SERVINGYOUINJANUARY GREETERS: 4 Leroy & Kolette Eggink Marc & Judy Gustafson 11 Bob & Suzy Brandner Dwayne & Carole Butcher 18 Dean & Carol Christopherson Gene & Lil Foth 25 Tom & Deb Martin Walter & Clarice Gehl COFFEE FELLOWSHIP: 4 Arnold & Elna Sexe 11 Gene & Lil Foth 18 Tom & Deb Martin 25 Dean & Carol Christopherson COMMUNION SERVERS: (January 4th): Sarah Martin Shirley Martin Jeff Ling Marc Gustafson *If you cannot serve on your assigned Sunday, please find a replacement or call the church office at MISSIONARY ADDRESSES Bruce Ahlberg Correspondence Address: 6ta Avenida Norte #33 Antigua, Guatemala Contribution Address: Richardson Springs Road Chico, CA Francisco & Stephanie Ramos 214½ E. Blue Earth Ave. Fairmont, MN fsrfrance@aol.com Or 6 bis, rue d Arsonval Paris France

4 AREA NEWS AND OUR VIEWS By Gene Foth Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead Philippians 3:13b As we look forward to the coming year we see a lot of wedding anniversaries that are over 50 years! Bob & Lindy Roos (67) Bud & Pauline Nickel (67) Arnold & Elna Sexe (66) Dwayne & Gertrude Hodnefield (64) Frank & Anne Breuker (63) Gene & Lil Foth (60) Harlan and Fern Schneiderman (58) Charles & Phyllis Middagh (57) Jim & Loretta Shows (57) Tom & Sharon Klucking (56) Craig & Elizabeth Stewart (55) Duane & Carole Butcher (52) Doug & Marcia Anton (51) CONGRAT- ULATIONS!!! Everyone volunteers for a reason. Some would say they need something to keep them busy, some would say they enjoy helping others. In past Holiday seasons you may have seen some of our church family doing VOLUNTEER WORK as a bell ringer for the Salvation Army. Howard Rachuy, Dale Martin, Arnold Sexe, Gene Foth, Craig Stewart and Arvid Bud Nickel have been bell ringers. ARNOLD & ELNA SEXE age 90 and 89 respectively volunteer as greeters every Wednesday morning at the Prairie Elementary School. Elna Sexe is with a group of children entering the South door. Standing in front of Elna is Hannah Vyskocil (Granddaughter of Margaret & Jerry Vyskocil) Elna says The thing I like most about being a greeter is showing love, concern and encouragement for the children as they begin another day of learning. In the 9 years of doing this I find the response of the Good Morning is the smiles and sometimes hugs from the children, teachers and staff Bud Nickel at Shopko. Photo courtesy of Jim Nickel Arnold Sexe greets kids at the west door. Arnold says The most rewarding is seeing all the smiling eager kids coming to school. I enjoy meeting and visiting with the teachers and staff these past 9 years. Photos courtesy of Margaret Vyskocil _ HERB STROMQUIST at age 91 volunteers as a lay preacher and sings at various retirement homes in Arizona and Minnesota.

5 Craig & Elizabeth Stewart volunteer as helpers in reading at the HEAD START programs of Southwest Minnesota. _ VOLUNTEERS for Dr. Greg Clark is the Medical Director. Didi Christopherson, Lil and Gene Foth are volunteer visitors How does a volunteer support hospice? 1. Providing respite to family 2 Socialization: reading, playing cards, sewing, simply being a friendly visitor to a patient 3 Offering their unique talents in any way toward supporting patients, families, and the community at-large GRETCHEN WENDT O DONNELL Is the wife of Colin O Donnell, mother of Ian, Katie and Lucy, living in rural Worthington PLUS she is a free lance writer for the DAILY GLOBE. She has a Masters Degree from Bethel Seminary and enjoys writing about the things she sees and applying theological truths to everyday situations. Her column, The Disheveled Theologian, RUNS MONTHLY. She also writes the view from my window column. She has a very unique style and her articles are always very interesting. People she has interviewed say that she is a real professional and makes them feel at ease and not up tight during the interview. Pending the editor s approval we may use some of Gretchen s writings when she writes an article about our church KEVIN & ERIKA MILLER together with JUDE & MAVIS GRAVENHOF deliver Soap, which is our church s Gap Ministry. BRIAN LING will be teaching a class on finances. COLIN O DONNELL and TOM AHLBERG have helped with furniture deliveries Honored DEAN CHRISTOPHERSON at their Annual Meeting. As a Producers Club Member for signing 10 new members this year and a Continuing Golden Plow member in the Producer s Club for signing more than 100 new members in a 10-year period. Dean was quick to recognize his wife Carol as being a real team player. CONGRATULATIONS to Dean Christopherson, President of the Nobles Co. Farm Bureau! SYMPATHY AND PRAYERS TO: Lowell and Nancy and their families in the death of June Larson December 9, To keep your church directory current you may want to remove June Larson s page.

6 Meeting Dates Monday, January 12th Commissions 6:00 P.M. Council 7:00 P.M. WEDNESDAY EVENING SCHEDULE FOR JANUARY Wednesday, January 7th 6:45 P.M. Youth Groups 6:45 P.M. Adult Bible Study Wednesday, January 14th 6:45 P.M. Adult Bible Study Wednesday, January 21st 6:45 P.M. Youth Groups 6:45 P.M. Adult Bible Study Wednesday, January 28th 6:45 P.M. Youth Groups 6:45 P.M. Adult Bible Study ANNUALBUSINESSMEETING Sunday,January25th followingworship Annualreportbookletswillbe availableonsunday,january11th. Sunday School will not meet on January 4th It will resume on January 11th. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the congregation for your generosity this Christmas season; your thoughtfulness is very much appreciated. John & Kris OFFERINGENVELOPES Envelopeshavebeenputinyour churchmailbox;ifyoudidnotreceive envelopesandwouldlikesome, pleasecontactlilfoth. CONFIRMATION RETREAT Saturday, January 24th 9:30 A.M. 3:00 P.M Week of Prayer John & Kris will be hosting a time of food, prayer and conversation at 7:00 P.M.at their house to which all are invited; please come according to your last name: A-F Monday, January 5th G-L Tuesday, January 6th M-Z Thursday, January 8th DEVOTIONALBOOKS CovenantHomeAltar January March Pickupacopyonthetable inthenarthex.

7 FAREWAY & HY-VEE GROCERY CARDS AVAILABLE!!! Don t forget to pick yours up on Sunday mornings, contact Howard Rachuy or Dean Christopherson or stop in the office during the week. CHURCH S WEBSITE Check out the website at You will find the bulletin, newsletter, Sunny Days calendars and much more there. FACEBOOK Did you know that First Covenant Church has a Facebook page? Like us on Facebook and follow all the news! FYI Any money that is still being donated to the Building Fund will go toward building up the Contingency Fund. Soles4Souls Village Northwest is collecting new and gently used shoes providing work opportunities for 180 people with a disability. Shoes will be shipped for distribution domestically and internationally to individuals that do not have proper footwear. Bring your shoes and place them in the collection box in the narthex. CURRENTNEEDSFORLOVEINC Watchthebullenboardsbytheoce andbythejerusalemroomfortheir currentneeds. Pray Worthington Tuesdays at noon at the Love INC office Check out the bulletin board by the Fellowship Hall for posters with announcements of things that are happening around the area. Have any news items you d like to share with the congregation? Please contact Gene Foth with your stories and news. LAKE BEAUTY BIBLE CAMP Information about their winter retreats are available on the table in the narthex.

8 SUNNY DAYS PRESCHOOL NEWS Hello Everyone! Now that we are on Christmas break at Sunny Days, it is a time to reflect and look back at all the learning that has taken place over the first months of the school year! It has been wonderful to see how children have developed new friendships and learned new ways to share and show God s love to others. During December, we learned about sound. We listened for alphabet letter sounds and made musical instruments to use for songs of praise at our Christmas programs. Our favorite books were, Moooo, Dog s Noisy Day, and The Very Clumsy Click Beetle. We also had a fun show and tell time where children brought something in a sock that made a sound. In many cases, it was tough to figure out what was making the sound. We heard legos, cereal, coins, bells, seeds and many, many noises coming from those socks!! January brings us into a study on clocks. If you have any clocks that are no longer working and you don t mind letting us fix it, we would welcome the donation! We also will be talking about the calendar and seasons during January so that will be perfect timing for our annual Beach Day celebrations on January 22 and 23! Besides collecting broken clocks, we continue to collect Campbell soup Labels for Education, envelopes, stickers and paper towel tubes. Thank you too for your continued prayers for Sunny Days children, families and staff! Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name. Psalm 66: 1& 2 In His Service, Sandy Wilson

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